On April 18, 2012 the FBI conducted a search at a reservoir in Parishville , N.Y. During the search, authorities recovered a Home Depot bucket which was hidden behind rocks.

"It's the hardest investigation, and the longest investigation I've ever been involved with in 28 years," said Detective George Murtie of the Essex Police.

About a half mile down a path at the Woodside Natural Area is where Murtie says Keyes hid a box filled with murderous paraphernalia.

"Yes this general area, what guided us was this sharp bend in the Winooski river right here," said Murtie.

The serial killer told authorities he buried a cache of items, including a handgun, in the box, calling it a 'murder kit'. Federal investigators say Keyes initially stashed it in April 2009. He retrieved it over two years later before killing the Curriers.He then hid most of the items in Parrishville, New York where they remained until he started confessing to his crimes.

"They recovered Bill and Lorraine's gun and pieces of what turned out to be the murder weapon," said Murtie.

Murtie wasn't surprised Keyes chose the location because a wooded, isolated area would have been in Keyes' comfort zone.

"He was very comfortable out in the woods and in wilderness areas," said Murtie.

While he can't say if Keyes would have returned to Vermont, he doesn't believe the murderer would have changed his ways.

"I think there's a substantial likelihood he would have killed again had he remained free," said Murtie.

But ultimately, the detective thinks Keyes' capture was his own doing.

"He made some mistakes, I think he was over confident, and he got caught," said Murtie.

FBI agents are now trying to find a person who is now being referred to as Keyes' first victim. They're looking for a woman in Oregon who Keyes admitted to sexually assaulting, but not killing, back in the late 90s. The woman would be in her late 20s or 30s now.